Vere Henry Louis Foster (or Lewis) (25 April 1819 – 21 December 1900) was an Anglo-Irish philanthropist, educationalist and free thinker. After following his Irish father into the British diplomatic service, with postings in South America, in Ireland he was moved by the Great Famine to organise relief efforts and to improve the conditions of passage for emigrants. These he, himself, experienced travelling steerage to the United States. Later, he supported national schools in Ireland and was first president of what is today Ireland largest teachers' union the Irish National Teachers' Organisation. He died in Belfast where he had been working for the relief of the sick and the poor.
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Early life
Foster was born in Copenhagen on 25 April 1819, where his Anglo-Irish father, Sir Augustus John Foster, was the British minister. His mother, Albinia Jane was the granddaughter of George Hobart, 3rd Earl of Buckinghamshire. He was educated at Eton College, and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 30 May 1838.